Travolta/Newton-John video reunion celebrates Marion County

Published: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 3:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 3:33 p.m.

It has been nearly 35 years since John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John sang sweet nothings to each other on film. Earlier this week, the two "Grease" stars released a boot-scoot, Christmas-kissed music video that seems to pick up where Danny and Sandy left off.

The upbeat video for “I Think You Might Like It” has the two dancing, cooing and driving off all cuddled up in Travolta's 1955 T-Bird. The song itself was written by John Farrar, who penned the No. 1 1978 hit "You're the One That I Want" from "Grease."

But to Marion County, the video offers an even deeper dose of déjà vu.

The video was filmed at Travolta's home in Anthony, his Jumbolair neighborhood and the Ocala International Airport. It also features a few local families showing some fancy footwork, including Kelly Preston, Ella Bleu and Ben Travolta — Travolta's wife and children.

It celebrates small-town America at Christmas and offers a substantial nod to the Travoltas' adopted hometown.

"You know, it's our town, and (the video) feels like Ocala," said Travolta, who has lived in the area for about 10 years. "I couldn't have done it anywhere else. It wouldn't have felt right."

As of this writing, "I Think You Might Like It" is the No. 7 most downloaded music video on iTunes, one notch behind One Direction and six behind PSY's "Gangnam Style."

"We were No. 6 in the first 12 hours," Travolta said. "In another 12 hours, we were No. 5."

Travolta and Newton-John appeared on "Ellen" Wednesday and will promote the video on "Good Morning America" and SiriusXM next week. The video received more than 1.5 million hits in its first two days on YouTube.

This means Ocala and the local performers are getting much airtime.

"Suddenly, overnight — literally — they are seen all over the world," Travolta said of his local friends who appeared in the video. "I cannot imagine what they are feeling right now."

"I Think You Might Like It" is a cut off "This Christmas," a holiday CD Travolta and Newton-John recorded earlier this year. It includes guest musicians James Taylor, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Kenny G and Chick Corea. All proceeds from the CD benefit the Jett Travolta Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Center.

Ocala's Jeff Bairstow said he loved being a part of a production that benefits charity and showcases Ocala. Bairstow plays a police officer who welcomes home his soldier son, played by his real son, Ryan. Both Bairstows dance in the video.

"A lot of people want me to give them lessons now," Bairstow said, joking that he should open a dance studio one day.

"When I asked all of these friends to do this, I didn't really know how they would do," Travolta said. "But they took to it like a fish to water. None of these people were uncomfortable at all. From the young to the old, they were fantastic."

Ryan, for example, has known Travolta for years, but said he was nervous going into the shoot because he did not know what to expect. Before long, though, the 17-year-old Trinity Catholic High School student and athlete was getting dancing and acting tips from a two-time Oscar nominee.

"He told me not to overact," Ryan said. The result is a touching, understated few seconds that has a father hugging his soldier son, home for Christmas. "I was very pleased when I saw the whole thing."

"We really enjoyed creating it together," Travolta said, "and it was fun to use a community to do it as opposed to hiring actors. The boys (Ryan Bairstow and Jacob Balken) said, ‘Ah, we wished we had done our dance a little better,' and I said, ‘No. Guys, that's the whole idea. If I wanted that, I would go to Broadway and get a person.'?"

Directed by Rav Holly and Corey Molina, the video was shot and edited in four days in November, Travolta said. And the filming was not the first time in Marion County for Newton-John, the four-time Grammy Award winner who also starred with Travolta in 1983's "Two of a Kind."

"She's been here a few times," Travolta said. "She's a horsey girl, so she's very familiar with it."

And while much has been made this week about Travolta and Newton-John reuniting on screen, Travolta realizes he and his beloved "Grease" co-star were, without question, upstaged by a young actor making his international video debut: 2-year-old Ben Travolta.

In the airport scenes, locals did their own versions of the two-step moves set by John Travolta. Ben's version is a euphoric stomp/jump combo.

"He steals the show for sure," Travolta said, laughing. "When we were filming, I said, ‘Ben, happy feet, happy dance. Let's do the happy dance.' He gets on a roll with it, and it's just hilarious."

<p>It has been nearly 35 years since John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John sang sweet nothings to each other on film. Earlier this week, the two "Grease" stars released a boot-scoot, Christmas-kissed music video that seems to pick up where Danny and Sandy left off.</p><p>The <a href="http://youtu.be/iGNIDXUaVts" target="_blank">upbeat video for “I Think You Might Like It”</a> has the two dancing, cooing and driving off all cuddled up in Travolta's 1955 T-Bird. The song itself was written by John Farrar, who penned the No. 1 1978 hit "You're the One That I Want" from "Grease."</p><p>But to Marion County, the video offers an even deeper dose of déjà vu.</p><p>The video was filmed at Travolta's home in Anthony, his Jumbolair neighborhood and the Ocala International Airport. It also features a few local families showing some fancy footwork, including Kelly Preston, Ella Bleu and Ben Travolta — Travolta's wife and children.</p><p>It celebrates small-town America at Christmas and offers a substantial nod to the Travoltas' adopted hometown.</p><p>"You know, it's our town, and (the video) feels like Ocala," said Travolta, who has lived in the area for about 10 years. "I couldn't have done it anywhere else. It wouldn't have felt right."</p><p>As of this writing, "I Think You Might Like It" is the No. 7 most downloaded music video on iTunes, one notch behind One Direction and six behind PSY's "Gangnam Style."</p><p>"We were No. 6 in the first 12 hours," Travolta said. "In another 12 hours, we were No. 5."</p><p>Travolta and Newton-John appeared on "Ellen" Wednesday and will promote the video on "Good Morning America" and SiriusXM next week. The video received more than 1.5 million hits in its first two days on YouTube.</p><p>This means Ocala and the local performers are getting much airtime.</p><p>"Suddenly, overnight — literally — they are seen all over the world," Travolta said of his local friends who appeared in the video. "I cannot imagine what they are feeling right now."</p><p>"I Think You Might Like It" is a cut off "This Christmas," a holiday CD Travolta and Newton-John recorded earlier this year. It includes guest musicians James Taylor, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Kenny G and Chick Corea. All proceeds from the CD benefit the Jett Travolta Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Center.</p><p>Ocala's Jeff Bairstow said he loved being a part of a production that benefits charity and showcases Ocala. Bairstow plays a police officer who welcomes home his soldier son, played by his real son, Ryan. Both Bairstows dance in the video.</p><p>"A lot of people want me to give them lessons now," Bairstow said, joking that he should open a dance studio one day.</p><p>"When I asked all of these friends to do this, I didn't really know how they would do," Travolta said. "But they took to it like a fish to water. None of these people were uncomfortable at all. From the young to the old, they were fantastic."</p><p>Ryan, for example, has known Travolta for years, but said he was nervous going into the shoot because he did not know what to expect. Before long, though, the 17-year-old Trinity Catholic High School student and athlete was getting dancing and acting tips from a two-time Oscar nominee.</p><p>"He told me not to overact," Ryan said. The result is a touching, understated few seconds that has a father hugging his soldier son, home for Christmas. "I was very pleased when I saw the whole thing."</p><p>"We really enjoyed creating it together," Travolta said, "and it was fun to use a community to do it as opposed to hiring actors. The boys (Ryan Bairstow and Jacob Balken) said, 'Ah, we wished we had done our dance a little better,' and I said, 'No. Guys, that's the whole idea. If I wanted that, I would go to Broadway and get a person.'?"</p><p>Directed by Rav Holly and Corey Molina, the video was shot and edited in four days in November, Travolta said. And the filming was not the first time in Marion County for Newton-John, the four-time Grammy Award winner who also starred with Travolta in 1983's "Two of a Kind."</p><p>"She's been here a few times," Travolta said. "She's a horsey girl, so she's very familiar with it."</p><p>And while much has been made this week about Travolta and Newton-John reuniting on screen, Travolta realizes he and his beloved "Grease" co-star were, without question, upstaged by a young actor making his international video debut: 2-year-old Ben Travolta.</p><p>In the airport scenes, locals did their own versions of the two-step moves set by John Travolta. Ben's version is a euphoric stomp/jump combo.</p><p>"He steals the show for sure," Travolta said, laughing. "When we were filming, I said, 'Ben, happy feet, happy dance. Let's do the happy dance.' He gets on a roll with it, and it's just hilarious."</p>